Page 36 of The Truths We Find

“I’m sure he was excited about your nomination.” I muster up a smile.

“Uh, yeah—” Dani hesitates. “For sure.”

“Dani, what’s up?” Alexa lifts her brow.

“It’s nothing. I’m sure I’m just reading into things.”

“Why don’t you let us decide that,” Emmett says. “Spill.”

“No offense, but you three aren’t the best people to come to for advice when it comes to Sam. I know none of you like him. All of you have admitted it. Hell, I had to stop Gavin and him from practically having a throwdown in the station parking lot his first week here.”

Emmett’s face lights up and turns to me. “You did?” He puts his hand on his chest. “I’m so proud.”

Dani holds out her hand, tilting her head. “See?”

“Putting our feelings for the guy aside,” I start. “We care about you. And if you’re feeling unsure about something, we want to be there for you.”

Dani sighs. “Fine. When I told him about the nomination, it’s almost like he didn’t hear it. He said ‘that’s great, babe’ and went on to tell me about something that happened on base. I get that what’s going on over there is important. I work in the news industry. Of course I get it. But all I get is a ‘that’s great, babe’? No ‘congratulations,’ or ‘I’m proud of you.’ Nothing.”

She sounds so defeated. The tone in her voice sends a knife to my gut. I would punch Sam if he was here. This is a huge deal for Dani, and Sam should be worshiping her for the amazing accomplishment this is.

“I don’t think you’re overreacting or reading into things,” I say. “You’re allowed to be upset.”

Dani offers me a tentative smile.

“Douche,” Alexa chimes in.

“I’m with Alexa on this one,” Emmett adds.

Dani rolls her eyes. “Helpful as always, guys.” She finishes off the rest of her beer. “I’m gonna head out. Emmett, how long are you in town for?”

“Just the weekend. Enough time to annoy twinny here before making my great escape.”

Dani and Emmett make plans to meet for breakfast tomorrow, and she heads out for the night. Alexa leaves shortly after, and I have to keep Emmett from following after her.

“She would eat you alive,” I say to him as Alexa makes her way out the door.

“And the problem with that is?”

I smack him across the back of the head.

We keep drinking in silence as the question I’ve been waiting for all night comes.

“So, when are you going to tell her?”

My head swirls at the thought. “I’m not. Not yet at least. I can’t.”

Emmett bends down to get closer to me, lowering his voice. “Are you fucking kidding me? Do you see how that asshole is treating her? I’ve been here only a few hours, and I can see it’s not right. She needs to know.”

“I know. But if I tell her, it’s only going to make things a thousand times worse.” Holding on to this secret for the last decade literally makes me sick. “I’ve gotta figure out another way for it to come out without Dani getting hurt in the fallout.”

“You have enough connections at this point. Can’t someone help you?”

“I’m trying. But even a single wrong step will set Sam off, and Dani’s life will be ruined.”

“Don’t you think she’s strong enough to know what’s going on at this point? Tell her what the asshole did. You guys can figure this out together. I’ve been telling you to tell her for nearly ten years. If you had just done that in the beginning, she never would have gotten with him!”

“You think I don’t know that?!” I raise my voice, then close my eyes to try to steady myself. “I’ve been kicking myself every day for letting him get between us. And then to find out they got together out of it?” I shake my head, my chest tight. “It kills me.”